Blog Layout

Can Mouse Droppings be Harmful?

YESpestpros • January 15, 2022

So you've been noticing strange things happening in your house, and you assume you have a rodent problem. You've noticed the corners of your cereal boxes appear to be chewed on. You found a hole in your couch cushions. You may have even seen a mouse or two in the house! But now you've found a pile of mouse droppings. This is a tell-tale sign that your rodent intruders aren't just visiting but that they've set up shop in your home. But can mouse poop really make you sick?

What Do Mouse Droppings Look Like?

The first step is to ensure that the droppings you've found come from a mouse. Mouse droppings are usually brown or black in color and 3-7 millimeters long with a granular shape resembling rice grain. You'll usually find mouse feces in small piles close to a nest.

Are Mouse Droppings Dangerous to Your Health?

Yes, they can be. Mouse droppings carry and can transmit several harmful diseases. Two of the most common illnesses are Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome and Salmonella.

  • Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome (HPS) – This disease is particularly dangerous because it not only spreads through direct contact with rodent feces but also through the air. Symptoms usually occur within 1-8 weeks of contact with rodent droppings and can include: fever, muscle ache, fatigue, trouble breathing, and severe cough.
  • Salmonella – Salmonella is an infection that lives in the digestive tracts of various animals like birds, rodents, and reptiles. Salmonella symptoms are especially severe in children and can include: fever, dehydration, chills, and diarrhea.

How Long Are Mouse Droppings Dangerous?

Now that we know the dangers that can come from mouse feces, it is also important to note how long these dropping can pose a problem to you and your family. Typically, the hantavirus found in mouse droppings can live for about one week outside of the host. This time is cut to just a few hours when met with direct sunlight. No matter how long these droppings are dangerous, though, it is super important to clean them up the right way.

How to Properly Clean Mouse Feces?

When you first notice mouse droppings, your first instinct might be to clean them up right away. However, to do it safely, there are some critical steps you should follow.

  1. Air out the room – Open up any windows in the room and turn on a fan. Allow the air to circulate for 30 minutes before starting the cleanup process. 
  1. Put on rubber gloves – Never touch mouse droppings with your bare hands. Wearing rubber gloves will protect your hands from contracting harmful diseases or bacteria.
  1. Spray the droppings with an antibacterial solution . For hard surfaces, you can use a 1/10 bleach to water mixture. For carpet or other fabric surfaces, use a non-staining solution like Tide Antibacterial Fabric Spray. Let the solution sit for ten minutes.
  2. Use a plastic zip-top bag to collect and dispose of the droppings. This step prevents bacteria from further spreading to other areas of your home.
  1. Contact your local pest control service . Cleaning up the droppings is only half the battle. Until you remove the mouse family from your home, more droppings will continue to appear. As soon as possible, contact your local pest control service to remove the mice from your home.

Do you Have a Mouse in your House? Contact the Pros!

 If you're dealing with a family of uninvited house guests, contact YES Pest right away! Our goal is to keep you and your family safe and free of illness by removing mice and any other pests that have entered your home and preventing them from returning in the future. Contact us today for a free quote!  

What Bugs Feed on Human Blood? Blood Eating Bugs

June 15, 2022
Insects that feed on human blood can cause incredible discomfort. In many cases, we don't even know we've been bitten until after they have had their meal. Some inject an anticoagulant into the bloodstream to suck up their meal faster, while others clamp on and indulge in our life-preserving liquid. It helps to know which of these creatures to be watchful of before they attack. That way, we can take active steps to avoid the misery before they get a chance to start.

Can Fleas Travel on Clothing?

June 15, 2022
We often think of fleas as a nuisance for your cat or dog. They have an annoying way of getting into their fur, and it can be a real problem to get them out. But it is their uncanny ability to get into your home and cause a significant infestation that is a source of concern for many, especially if their presence is not properly eliminated. This has become a significant problem for many people. No doubt, the best way to ensure you don’t get a flea infestation in your home is to make sure they never get inside in the first place.

Are Bed Bugs Visible With the Naked Eye?

June 15, 2022
Waking up with tiny little bite marks all over your body is never a good thing. As you look at your irritated skin with the tell-tale red spots that itch persistently, you're sure that they result from bed bugs. No one wants their bed infested with these creatures, so you want to get rid of them as soon as possible. But before you decide to launch an all-out attack on these irritants, you need to be sure of what you're dealing with. Unfortunately, plenty of other pests may invade your mattress, and using the wrong treatment to eliminate the problem could delay getting you relief or even worsen the situation. Before you decide on a method of extermination, you need to make sure of what you're actually dealing with. Still, because these bugs are so tiny, you might wonder if they can be seen with the naked eye. The answer is - sometimes. Bed bugs are usually visible in the later stages of development, but there's a good chance that if you can identify bed bugs in their adult stage, many younger ones are lying around, just waiting to take a bite out of you.

Are Carpet Beetles Dangerous?

June 15, 2022
As their name implies, carpet beetles infest carpets and other fibers and are especially active during springtime. The first sign of an infestation is often a dead carpet beetle trapped in a window sill. But you can be sure if there’s one; there are many more. Carpet beetles typically live outdoors but are wintering insects . They will seek the warm cozy interior of your home after temperatures drop, and once inside, they become a threat to your property and food and can cause rashes with their tiny hairs. Carpet beetles feature: “Mottled” coloring of black, brown, white, or yellow. Oval-shaped bodies. Adult length between 1/16 - 1/8 inches. The first concern with any infestation is safety.

What Spring Bugs Should You be on The Lookout For?

June 15, 2022
As spring approaches and temperatures begin to rise, all sorts of creepy crawlies emerge in search of food, warmth, and a place to reproduce. Unfortunately, your home could be the perfect place to find all three. If you're not quick to eliminate these pests, you could have a serious infestation on your hands. Here are a few spring bugs that you should keep an eye out for as winter comes to an end. 

Are Spiders Active in Winter?

By YESpestpros • June 15, 2022
Aracniphobs everywhere look to winter as a moment’s respite from spiders. The myth goes that spiders are cold-blooded and can’t survive the winter, but the truth is complex. There are 400 different species of spider in Indiana and 3,500 nationwide. Each one has different behaviors and approaches to surviving the cold. Some die off before winter, like the North American black and yellow garden spider, but others adapt. The body content of your post goes here. To edit this text, click on it and delete this default text and start typing your own or paste your own from a different source.

How to Get Rid of Moths

By YESpestpros • February 28, 2022
Moths can be pretty pesky little things; the larvae they leave behind can quickly chew through a wide variety of substances, including your clothes, bedding, and food. In addition, many people can have adverse allergic reactions when they are in their vicinity.  While moths play an essential role in our environment, they tend to be […] The post How to Get Rid of Moths appeared first on Yes Pest Control.

What Types of Ticks are Dangerous?

By YESpestpros • February 15, 2022
At first glance, ticks do not appear to be dangerous. But don’t let their tiny size and small mouths fool you. These guys are voracious eaters, and the females are known to suck at least 200 times their body weight in blood. They need this feeding cycle to develop through the different stages in their […] The post What Types of Ticks are Dangerous? appeared first on Yes Pest Control.

How to Get Rid of Moles in Your Yard

By YESpestpros • January 30, 2022
Nothing can make a homeowner more proud than the exterior beauty of a perfectly landscaped yard. However, all your dedication to beautifying your outdoor space can be tainted when you have underground guests come to visit.  When you start to notice a series of small holes in your yard that seem to emerge out of […] The post How to Get Rid of Moles in Your Yard appeared first on Yes Pest Control.

Is Pest Control Necessary In The Winter?

By YESpestpros • December 31, 2021
One comforting thought that can get us through even the harshest winter is that bugs hate the cold. Many bugs seemingly vanish from the earth for months after the first freeze.  Does this mean we can ignore pest control during winter?  A great number of bugs do go dormant, die off, or seek shelter during […] The post Is Pest Control Necessary In The Winter? appeared first on Yes Pest Control.
More Posts
Share by: